Rams to look at Rice / Injury Report

The timing could hardly be worse for the Rams' Dominique Thompson. Impressive during training camp and embroiled in a tight race for the final wide receiver spot on the roster, Thompson now will sit for at least a couple of weeks.

Thompson suffered two displaced ribs in Friday's 13-10 exhibition victory at Minnesota. He was injured in the third quarter when safety Mike Doss drilled him on his lower right side after a 9-yard gain on an end-around.

Before the extent of the injury was known, Thompson returned to the game. "That was a tribute to his ability to handle that," coach Scott Linehan said. "It had to be extremely painful."

Thompson, Marques Hagans and rookie Derek Stanley are the main contenders for a job on the 53-man roster, but newcomer Fred Gibson will get a look, too. Thompson can't further his cause on the sideline, but Linehan assured that he won't be forgotten.

"It's going to give other guys opportunities, but it doesn't dispel our feelings about him," Linehan said. "He's done enough at this point where if he were to be in that spot that he's competing for, he'd do a nice job."

Thompson, who also caught a 4-yard pass, spent most of the past two seasons on the Rams' practice squad.

Upon further review of the weather forecast, which calls for a high temperature of about 100 degrees, the club has decided to close Sunday afternoon's practice to the public.

"We're 50-50 whether we're going to be inside or outside," Linehan explained, "and if we move indoors, we don't want to disappoint fans who are planning on coming and then see that they can't get in."

Access to the public will be determined day by day this week, Linehan added. "Hopefully there will be a break in the weather or the humidity goes down," he said. "If we go out (Sunday), there's a pretty good chance we'll stay out all week. That's our plan for right now."

ON PACE

Left tackle Orlando Pace, recovering from triceps surgery, participated in his first "live" action in almost nine months. He was with the first-team offense for its two first-quarter series.

"He's slowly but surely getting back to form," offensive coordinator Greg Olson said. "At the start of training camp, he was somewhat reluctant to use that left arm. But as camp's progressed, he's become more and more comfortable with it. We saw him using his left arm (vs. the Vikings), and there were no limitations there. So, we're excited about that."

RAM-BLINGS

Linehan said the Rams are interested in defensive end Simeon Rice, a former Illinois standout and three-time Pro Bowler, and might bring him to Rams Park for a visit. Rice, 34, recently was released by Tampa Bay. ... Four Rams quarterbacks completed passes to 17 receivers — 15 of them teammates. ... Linebacker Quinton Culberson, an undrafted rookie, continues to impress. "He's got a natural nose for the football," defensive coordinator Jim Haslett said. "Even when he doesn't know what the hell he's doing, he makes a tackle."